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If you want Spectacular ......

P

PeteHam

Charter Member
Then these would have to be among the best ......

From the 'Tiger Moth Story'
" ..... It was while flying this particular Tiger that Mr Lewis Benjamin of the Tiger Club had what can only be described as a miraculous escape.
During his demonstation of low level crazy flying at the 1963 Sywell air display the 'Canon' flicked into a spin, digging it's nose into the ground. It bounced back into the air and landed heavily, spread-eagle fashion, collapsing it's undercarriage and shedding it's engine. The pilot was lifted from the wreckage with a broken nose, bloodshot eye and a bruised thigh caused when the metal control stick bent itself around his leg during the crash ....... "

The Lightning
Test Pilot George Aird ejects from P.1B Lightning XG332 on Sept 13 1962.

Both pilots survived

Warning ..... "Don't try these at home" :icon_lol:

Pete.
 
Ouch indeed...but you know, I'm looking at the Lightning pic, and a few things don't gel...
There should be a MB MK IV ejection seat somewhere in the picture.
Maybe there is, but it has already separated from the pilot!
If not, you assume it operated a while ago, and so is out of the picture.
In either case, how come the fast-moving aircraft is still above the hapless pilot, already slowed by drogue chute?

What do you call a shopped picture, before there was Photoshop? :d
 
That Lightning picture is genuine I believe --- Ive seen it many times and I have a magazine dating back to the 60s somewhere with that pic...never seen that Tiger Moth pic/storey though.
 
More on the Lightning pic from another site ....
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1531221

"George Aird, DeHavilland test pilot ejects from Lightning PB1 XG332 on 13th September1962." carrying out demonstration flight when there was a fire in the aircraft's reheat zone. This weakened the tailplane control system which failed with the aircraft at 100ft on final approach. Fortunately the nose pitched up, giving Aird time to eject. He came down through a greenhouse roof, breaking both legs and right thigh. He recovered to resume his flying career. I believe the photograph was for a farming magazine, with only the tractor planned to be in shot!"

and ....

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p>Had a fascinating chat today with Jim Meads. He lived in Hatfield, having been an apprentice photographer with deHavilland just after the war. He knew George Aird but didn't realise he was flying XG332 on the 13th. Jim was out for a walk with his children, unusually taking his camera along. He related how the nose came up as the elevators locked, George ejected as the aircraft stood on it's tail and he had just time to line up one 'good' shot as the Lightning tipped down nose first. He changed plates and got a second shot of a mushroom cloud rising above the glasshouses after the plane exploded. Jim got £1000 for the photo rights which, as he put it, set him up for the rest of his life. A grand went along way in 1962! Nearing 80 he is still a very active photographer and has a photograph collection that sounds exciting, with some having been published in Flypast etc. As well as XG332 he also witnessed the collision of Jaguar and light plane over mid <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>Wales</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Pieces of them falling on his house. Thanks to David and Scotavia for the links!


<o:p>Pete.</o:p>
</o:p>
 
Ah OK that makes more sense, he's actually quite a way behind the plane then.
Some people have all the luck, all these years and I've never witnessed even a near-miss :d
(may it continue that way.)
Incredible pic, fully deserves a grand I'd say.
 
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